Oakland County Criminal Defense Lawyer Paul J. Tafelski Issues Guidance On EtG Test Pitfalls And Probation Risks

Oakland County, Michigan - Oakland County criminal defense lawyer Paul J. Tafelski of Michigan Defense Law (https://www.michigandefenselaw.com/blog/etg-test/) released comprehensive guidance addressing the use of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) testing in Michigan probation matters. The update explains how EtG results are interpreted in OWI supervision, outlines avenues for challenging questionable positives, and clarifies that a failed screen does not automatically establish a probation violation. The resource underscores procedural rights, scientific limits of testing, and steps defense counsel can take to protect the record.

EtG testing remains a common tool in probation monitoring, yet its application carries material legal risk when decision-makers rely on a single result without context. The guidance from the Oakland County criminal defense lawyer details how direct biomarkers EtG and EtS may remain detectable for approximately 1-2 days, with some laboratories reporting longer detection windows at certain cutoffs. It further explains that assay sensitivity varies across platforms, and that presumptive positives should be confirmed by higher-specificity methods such as LC/MS/MS. This framework assists courts and probation officers in weighing whether a result reflects beverage alcohol consumption or incidental exposure.

The Oakland County criminal defense lawyer also addresses documented sources of false-positive concerns, including alcohol-based hand sanitizers, mouthwashes, and over-the-counter preparations. According to the guidance, the core limitation is not that EtG exists in urine, but that the metabolite cannot identify source or context by itself. For that reason, the resource recommends pairing EtG with EtS, reviewing creatinine for dilution, and requesting confirmation on any presumptive immunoassay screen before adverse action. Defendants retain the right to a probation violation hearing, where the State must establish a breach by a preponderance of the evidence. Targeted motions, laboratory data review, and scientific exhibits can rebut unsupported inferences and protect supervision status.

In practical terms, the Oakland County criminal defense lawyer outlines steps that reduce the chance of incidental-exposure disputes. Recommendations include selecting alcohol-free personal care products, avoiding fermented beverages and kombucha in the testing window, maintaining an exposure log, and documenting work settings where sanitizer or solvent use is frequent. On test day, subjects can disclose recent products and medications and request combined EtG/EtS analysis with confirmatory testing for any initial positive. If a low positive occurs, counsel can move quickly to obtain raw data, seek retesting, and place scientific advisories before the court to prevent a result from being treated as conclusive proof of drinking.

The guidance also clarifies courtroom process and standards. A probationer is entitled to due process, notice, and opportunity to be heard. While the burden is lower than beyond a reasonable doubt, courts routinely consider reliability, chain of custody, assay cutoffs, time since alleged use, and corroborating evidence. The Oakland County criminal defense lawyer emphasizes that a single unconfirmed screen, standing alone, should not control the outcome where scientific literature and real-world exposure can explain detectable metabolites without beverage use.

About Michigan Defense Law:

Michigan Defense Law is a criminal defense firm led by attorney Paul J. Tafelski, serving clients across Oakland County and the greater Detroit area. The firm handles OWI and DUI cases, probation violations, domestic violence, drug offenses, theft, and a broad range of misdemeanor and felony matters in Michigan state and federal courts. With a record of trial representation and motion practice, the team focuses on safeguarding liberty, employment, and long-term prospects through strategic advocacy. For consultations or additional information, contact Michigan Defense Law at (248) 451-2200 or visit the firm's website to request a confidential case review.

Embeds:

Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbaEwsly83U

GMB: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=7441820969606749572

Email and website

Email: paul@michigandefenselaw.com

Website: https://www.michigandefenselaw.com/

Media Contact
Company Name: Michigan Defense Law
Contact Person: Paul J. Tafelski
Email:Send Email [https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=oakland-county-criminal-defense-lawyer-paul-j-tafelski-issues-guidance-on-etg-test-pitfalls-and-probation-risks]
Phone: (248) 451-2200
Address:2525 S Telegraph Rd suite 100
City: Bloomfield Hills
State: Michigan 48302
Country: United States
Website: https://www.michigandefenselaw.com/

Legal Disclaimer: Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. ABNewswire makes no warranties or responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you are affiliated with this article or have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article and would like it to be removed, please contact retract@swscontact.com



This release was published on openPR.